Week 39! Yikes!

I had my last day of work last Friday; it was a really strange feeling to just walk away at the end of the day, knowing that I'm done teaching as long as I want to be done teaching. Chris kept asking me if I was going to get bored this week at home, but he fails to realize that this is the last time I will ever have to just be bored. No obligations to anyone (other than the pets) or anything (other than running some errands, etc.).

Monday I made sure to get my Mani/Pedi because no one wants to give birth with ugly feet. I also cleaned, which at this point means that I vacuumed and dusted. I did make it to a few stores, including another trip to Buy Buy Baby because Chris decided that having a manly diaper bag was important to him. So now we have two.

Tuesday I had my 39 week appointment--no major developments, but they are being very gentle when checking me because I am one of few women that really wants this baby to stay in a little longer. Chris has his last call on Friday, so if this baby could hold on until at least Sunday, that would be great! The doctor thinks that I will go sometime next week.

Yesterday I went to the Matthews Police Department for help installing our car seat correctly; as it turns out, those things are tricky. The backseat is now very full, and Scout isn't sure she likes her new small space squeezed next to the window. While I was getting my car seat installed, one of the officers noticed that my registration was expired. I think because I was there doing a good thing, they took pity on me and didn't write me a ticket even though they should have--the registration expired last May!!! Needless to say, I stopped to get an inspection on my way home, and then I renewed my registration online last night.

But I'm sure I will get pulled over for the expired tags until the new ones come in the mail. Maybe on my way to the hospital--that would be fun!

Here are pictures of the completed nursery:

The other big item

Right before Spring Break (at almost 36 weeks), Chris and I did a maternity photo shoot. A friend of mine has a friend that takes some amazing pictures! And I am so glad that we did it.

We didn't go the almost-naked route, but chose instead to do some classy shots with the two of us (and some of just me).

I plan to hang some up in the baby's room, but I have to pick which ones! Help!!!

For all of the pictures, you can visit the gallery online. If you want the contact information for the photographer, let me know. I loved her!

http://gallery.me.com/lacycamp#100929

Spring Break and other such things

Last week was my Spring Break (love being a teacher), and I was a very busy mommy-to-be. Chris was able to schedule two of his days off during last week, so we were actually able to get some stuff done. The garden, for example. We set out early in the morning, because it was supposed to be over 85 degrees that day, for Home Depot to get some flowers, mulch, soil, etc. We stopped at McDonald's on the way home for a drink which Chris did not see the need for.

"Don't we have drinks at home?" he asked.

"Yes, but not Diet Dr. Pepper from fountain in a Styrofoam cup," I replied. "Besides, I am sitting here in the front seat holding flowers that wouldn't fit into the back seat getting pollen all over me. I deserve it."

When we got back home, we got to work immediately. As it turns out, it is really hard to bend over, squat down, dig holes, etc. when almost ready to birth a baby. I spent the majority of the day sitting on the ground next to Chris handing him the flowers. He worked really hard.

By the end of the day, here was my idea of gardening:

And here was Chris's:

The next day, my wonderful mother came into to town to help me tackle the many items on my to-do list. I seriously couldn't have done it without her! We did a lot of shopping, organizing, washing, shopping, organizing, washing, etc. Oh, and eating. I gained three pounds.

But, the baby's room is ready. I apparently have all of the items that I need to take care of the baby. I just need the baby.

Here's some very bad pictures of the decorated nursery. The only things missing are the wall hangings (some stuff from the bedding line, something that will have the yet-to-be-named baby's name on it, and some pictures).

Two weeks to go!!!!

Really?

Leaving dinner the other night...

Me: Do I look pregnant from behind?
Chris: Only in the triceps.

He was trying to be cute and funny because I have always referred to my triceps (and I'm sure this is true from many women) as the "triceps of terror" because no matter what, there is always a little bit of softness there.

Me: That is totally going on the blog.
Chris: Everyone is going to think I'm a jerk.
Me: Just like the Victoria Secret post.
Chris: The what?

Up

I tried to go to sleep. I kept trying for about an hour. The baby hiccuped. The baby rolled. I rolled. I readjusted. And, worst of all, I thought. And worried. And planned. And made LISTS. There was no hope for sleep once the mental lists got going. This is the price I pay for reading baby books before bed.

So here I am. Looking through my registry trying to decide which of the items still on there will need to be purchased before the baby is born and which items can wait until later. I also started a to-do list. And sadly, one of the items on my list is to make another list. I won't go into detail--just realize how sad that is.

Tomorrow I will be 35 weeks--leaving me only five short weeks to get all of these things done. And to make it worse, Chris will be starting a very busy and exhausting rotation on Thursday, so anything I really want his help on will need to be in the next few days. Oh wait, he is working nights until then...making it hard to get anything done. Great.

I've managed to put a lot of things off until this last little stretch because I kept telling myself that "there's time." Well, there isn't much left, so I better get started. For instance, maybe it would be a good idea to have a list of names picked out for when we go to the hospital. We have a "list" of about 30 names...not very helpful. We're not going to the hospital with one of each because we truly feel that we won't be able to really choose a name until we meet the child, but less than 30 would be a good idea, right?

But the most important question that we need to answer before we have this baby is...what should the birth song be? If you know my husband at all, you know just how big of a deal this is. We are currently leaning toward "Born in the USA" by Bruce Springsteen, but I have my hang-ups about how deceptive that song is. It sounds all happy and upbeat, but the lyrics are really quite sad...I actually use it in the classroom to talk about the dark side of the American Dream. Maybe if we can just play the chorus on repeat. What better way to enter the world than by listening to The Boss scream the location of your birth--just in case you thought perhaps it was Mongolia or something.